Ruby walked through town the next morning. She didn't want to go to the guild hall, she didn't want to face Rogue after what happened last night. She had cried in front of him, she had shown weakness. What would he think of her now? She held her head down, not looking at anyone of anything in particular. She should never nave joined Sabertooth. She should just leave, she wasn't getting any where with the phoenix case and now these feelings for Rogue were starting to appear...

"Hey Ruby!" She heard a voice she recognised as Sting's from behind her. No, her mind screamed at her. If he was here then surely...Sting appeared beside her and sure enough Rogue came to her other side. Frosch and Lector came up and stood next to Rogue.

"What do you want?" Ruby said with a sigh.

"Just wondering why you haven't come to the guild hall."

"I don't have to come everyday." Said Ruby walked off.

"Well where are you going?" Sting called after her. Ruby whipped around and glared at him.

"Why exactly are you so damn interested?"

"Because I told him what happened last night." Said Rogue.

"We want to know who Jacob is." Said Sting. "He's the dragon slayer you knew right?" 

"Yes he was alright. He was a second generation earth dragon slayer and he was killed trying to help me take down a phoenix. He idiot died trying to protect me, he acted without thinking and died because of it." Ruby said with a raised voice. 

"You loved him right?" Asked Sting.

"Yes...yes I did okay? And now he is dead, just like everyone else I care about in my life and the one that isn't dead had been taken away from me and no matter what I do I can't find her." A pain appeared in Ruby's gut. She clutched it and her face crumbled in pain.

"Ruby!" Said Rogue and he and Sting rushed froward to her aid.

"Ruby what wrong?"

"I don't know but my stomach all of a sudden..." Ruby's vision became blurry and she leant of Rogue for support. He held her tightly by the torso.

"We should get her to the guild infirmary." He said picking Ruby up in a bridal saddle.

"No...don't...I'm fine." She Ruby but then darkness took over her and she was out cold...

Ruby opened her eyes but all she saw around her was darkness. She couldn't feel any ground beneath her feet, it was like she was floating. She looked around but there was no one else there, she was all alone in a strange place.

"Where the hell am I?" She said to herself.

"Ruby, my child..." Said a female voice in the dark. Ruby knew that voice.

"Mum! Mum where are you?"

"I am in a place unknown to me but I understand that you are looking for me. My child, you have never changed. Even now you are loyal to me."

"Of course I am. Tell me where you are, I'll come and get you."

"Ruby you can't just storm this place, it is hidden from human eyes."

"But I need to find where you are. You must have something, anything that I can go on. A name or a face...something I can use to find you. I need you and the phoenixes...they need you too."

"What they need is a new leader, I am too weak now."

"Weak? Since when in hell have you been weak?"

"Phoenix might not die of old age but there comes a point were their soul begins to give up. I have seen a lot in my time, a lot of death and my soul cannot take it any more. The time is coming for me to pass on."

"So your going to give up?"

"It's not giving up my child. It is returning to nature. You know that a phoenix can be killed by a phoenix or a phoenix slayer or they can give themselves back to nature. That is what I plan to do but I cannot pass over while my kind are in danger." 

"So what do I do? Please tell me."

"Come back to the start Ruby. The King that has taken over is strong but he is someone I know you can beat. If you challenge him directly he will not back down, he can't."

"Mum what are you talking about?"

"When the Queen or King of phoenixes is challenge by another younger phoenix who wants to become the leader then have no choice but to fight. It is very much like dragons do, if you beat him in this fight then you will become the new Queen and I can die in peace. Knowing that my race is in good hands."

"You...you want me to become the Queen?"

"Yes child."

"But I'm not even a phoenix. I'm human."

"A human that has proven herself to be incredibly strong. The phoenixes already recognise you as a leader. You just have to assume that position."

"But if I do that then you will..."

"Ruby remember what I told you when you were but a small child?"

"A leader...must think about the good of the race before them self, but I am not a leader."

"You are because I raised you as one. It was you destiny to take this position. Believe in yourself Ruby..."